Almost certainly any pet over 4 years old is in dental pain,” said Dr. Tony
Woodward, who was just getting warmed up.

“People just think teeth look pretty or not,” he said.

Woodward, one of only 110 board-certified veterinary dental specialists in the world, is clearly passionate about his work.

Ask the owner of Animal Dental Care in Colorado Springs about February being Pet Dental Health Month, and he’s off:

“Nobody even knew it was a health problem until the last 15-20 years, even veterinarians.” he said. “Most vets don’t learn dental in veterinary school.

“Older dogs have pain and don’t show it. In the last 15-20 years, we
started to realize a lot of things. A poodle can have 15 abcessed teeth. When we fix it, the animal acts younger.

“We now know that dental disease can cause other diseases in dogs and
cats: heart; liver, kidney.

“If your pet has gum disease, it will damage the liver and kidneys and can even cause infection in the blood stream.”

Not to mention it makes it tough for pets to chew and causes bad breath – and “bad breath alone can keep pets and humans apart.”

One of Woodward’s central points is that unless dental x-rays are taken a
veterinarian won’t catch all the problems because most problems are hidden under the gum line.

Another thing he wants people to know is that anesthesia is necessary.

“Anesthesia-free” dental procedures are ineffective and will not address
all of the problems in the animal’s mouth, such as deep gum infection and
damaged back teeth, so be sure to talk to your veterinarian about their
dental procedure process.”

People are scared to have their pets under anesthesia, but if it is high
quality then the risk is extremely low, Woodward said.

For dogs, Woodward says avoid chew toys that can break teeth like cow hooves, pig ears, hard nylon bones, ice cubes, and large knotted raw hides, even though they can help clean teeth.

In cats and dogs, the most effective way to prevent dental disease is to brush the animal’s teeth daily, use pet-friendly oral rinses, and allow them to chew bendable and flexible toys.

“The most important thing to remember is to take your pet in at least once
a year for an annual check-up and be sure a comprehensive dental exam
is included,” Woodward said.

“And lastly, do anything you can to disrupt plaque,” he said.

The Colorado Veterinary Medical Association, which provided some of the
information for this blog, calls on pet owners to celebrate Pet Dental Health Month from here on out by brushing your pet’s teeth daily, getting
teeth examined at regular physical exams, and following your
veterinarian’s recommendations for dental procedures and cleanings.

____________

Animal tracks – Dog owners end up walking more than 23,000 miles – almost as far as walking around the world — with their pet during its lifetime, a new study has found.
The study, covered in an article by the Press Trust of India – has shown
the average person walks their dog for eight hours and 54 minutes a week, covering 36 miles; it adds up to ng 1,855 miles a year or 23,739 miles in an average canine’s lifetime of 12.8 years.
The study by insurance firm ‘Esure’ shows the average dog gets two walks
of around 47 minutes plus one short walk of about 13 minutes a day,
totalling to 107 minutes and covering about seven miles.

The pursuit of a healthier state through better living. The Denver Post's ColoradoFit blog features local experts on the latest fitness trends, active lifestyles and nutrition options in Colorado and beyond.